2 teens arrested for handbag theft from Russian tourist

Two teenagers were arrested for allegedly robbing a Russian tourist of her handbag.

“Kot,” 15, and “Ae,” 17, were captured in separate arrests Dec. 26. The younger boy was apprehended in front of the J’Juk restaurant on North Road while the second suspect was nabbed on Naklua Soi 25 with the motorbike allegedly used in the crime.

On Kot police found the bag containing cash, ATM card, smartphone and documents reported stolen by Tatiana Zotova, 28, and her boyfriend.

Zotova declined to press charges, but police had evidence the boys had been involved in other snatching cases and detained them.

Police said the boys confessed to the robbery, saying they wanted the money for partying.

This article was published in the Pattaya Mail newspaper on Friday January 10, 2014 (Vol. XXII No. 2).